Liquid dispenser



Nov. 24, 1936. R. LUTHI LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Jan.' 7, 1936 2Sheets-Shea?I l New VBYSmm. v

)V ATTORNEYS NGV. 24, 1936. R LUTH-l 2,061,582

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Jan. 7, 193e 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 24,1936 LIQUID DISPENSER Robert Luth, Maywood, Ill., assignor to AmericanCan Company, New York, N. Y., a corpora.-

tion oi' New Jersey Application January 7, 1936, Serial No. 57,990

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a liquid dispenser having a pouringspout and cooperating opening elements which function to cut into andopen sealed liquid iilled containers or cans as 5 dispenser and can arebrought together, the liquid contents of the can draining into andthrough the pouring spout when the device is used in its dispensingcapacity and the invention has particular reference to the embodiment ofthe pouring l spout and the elements associated therewith in a unitarystructure in which moving parts are eliminated and which includes anopening element which is substantially self-sealing with the edges ofthe opening it makes in the container,

l and which further includes means for collecting liquid which mayaccidentally leak from the container during dispensing and forconducting this liquid through the spout into the same place of depositwith the main body of the liquid.

The invention contemplates a dispensing device for opening sealed canspreferably lled with lubricating oils and for dispensing these oilsinto' the crank cases of automobiles although the devioeis equally wellsuited for opening sealed cans filled with any other kind of liquid andfor dispensing the liquid intoA any other place where it may be used.

An object of the invention is the provision of a liquid dispenser ofunitary structure Which is adapted to be quickly and securely applied toan end of a sealed liquid filled can, the dispenser having elements forengaging under the can end seam which is utilized as a fulcrum forpivoting the dispenser into can opening position and having a' pouringspout and a cooperating opening element or cutter for perforating thetop of the can and for conveniently pouring the contents therefrom intoa suitable place of deposit when the dispenser is used in its dispensingcapacity.

y4.0 Another object is the provision of such a liquid dispenser whereinthe cutter is substantially selfsealing with the edges of the opening itmakes in the can end and which secures the dispenser on the can withincreasing tightness as the opening of the can proceeds.

Still another object is the provision in a liquid dispenser'of thischaracter of means for collecting liquid which may accidentally dripfrom the can while the dispenser is being used in its dispensingcapacity and for conducting the drip through the dispenser spout intothe place of deposit with the main body of liquid to prevent itsaccumulation on the outside of the can.

lNumerous other objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings," discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a liquid dispenser 5 embodying theinstant invention, the View showing the dispenser applied to a can;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser and can illustrated in Fig.l;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantiall0 ly along the line 3-3in Fig. 1; p

Fig. 4 is'a side elevation showing a frag-ment` .of the upper end of thecan and one end of the dispenser, illustrating the position of thelatter When first applied to the can to engage the dis- 15 penser withthe can end seam;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken through a partof the dispenser and the upper part of the can and illustrating thedispenser pivoted from the position shown in Fig. 4 20 to a positionwhere the cutter is just beginning to cut through the can top;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the dispenser fully applied to theopened can and in tilted position as when used in its dispensingcapacity; 25

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views taken through the dispenser pouringspout, the sections taken being indicated by the lines 1 1, 8 8 in Fig.

6; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially 30 along the line 9 9 inFig. 6.

The dispenser illustrated in the drawings as a preferred embodiment ofthe invention and designated by the letter A (Figs. l, 2 and 6) isadapted to be applied to an end of a container or can B 35 lled with aliquid such as lubricating oil which is to be dispensed. In applying thedispenser to the can one end of the dispenser is preferably engagedunder the can end seam, indicated by the letter a, (as shown in Fig. 4)which is used as a 4o fulcrum while the dispenser is pivoted into canopening position against the can end (marked b) Vent holes are punchedin the can end during this pivoting movement.

A cutter C (Figs. 5 and 6) secured in the dis- 45 penser A is utilizedfor opening the can end b when the can and the dispenser are broughttogether. After the can is opened and the dispenser and can are broughtinto dispensing position as illustrated in Fig. 6 the' liquid drainingout 50 of the can iiows through the cutter and the dispensing spout intoany suitable place of deposit which may be an automobile crank case orother place where the oil is to be used.

The dispenser A includes a dat main frame Il 55 which is disposedhorizontally over the can top when the dispenser is applied to the can Bas illustrated in Fig. 1. At one end the frame I I is formed with ashort right angle leg I2 (Figs. 1, 4 and 6) which merges into anoutwardly and downwardly sloping arm I3 which is used for properlylocating the dispenser when it is rst applied to the can as illustratedin Fig. 4. This structure of frame, leg and arm is reenforced by acontinuous vertical rib I4.

Secured to the main frame II adjacent the leg I2 is a hook member I6(Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6) for engaging under the can end seam a when thearm I3 is placed vertically against the can body (Fig. 4). The hookmember is formed on a plate I1 which is riveted to the bottom of themain frame and which is also formed with a pair of spaced puncturinginstrumentalities I8 which engage the can top adjacent the seam a fortransversely locating the device and for forming vent holes I9 (Figs. 3,5 and 6) in the can top b when the dispenser is pivoted on the seam a toopen the can.

At the opposite end of the frame ,I I the dispenser is provided with thecutter C for opening the can and an upwardly extending pouring spout 20for dispensing the liquid contents of the can after it is opened. Ahandle 2| projecting from the side of the pouring spout is used forpivoting the dispenser on the seam a. to effect the opening of the can.

The pouring spout is formed integrally with the frame I I and issubstantially circular in crosssection (see Fig. 8) having an internalbore 22 which is enlarged at the entrance end of the spout to provide aninternal shoulder 23 (Figs. 5 and 6). The outside of the spout is formedwith longitudinal projecting ribs 24, preferably three in number, whichallow for venting when the spout is inserted into an automobile crankcase or other place of deposit when the dispenser is used in itsdispensing capacity.

The cutter C (Figs. 3, 5 and 6) is disposed in the entrance end of thepouring spout in a pocket or recess 25 formed in the frame II. Thepocket is surrounded by a flange 26 which merges into a pouring spoutextension 21 which projects down adjacent the side wall of the can whenthe dispenser is fully applied. The cutter C is formed on one end of atubular member or sleeve 3| which is disposed inside of the pouringspout 20 frictionally engaging the spout bore 22. Adjacent the cutterthe sleeve is enlarged providing a shoulder 32 which abuts against thespout shoulder 23 for preventing longitudinal displacement of the sleeveduring a can opening operation. The sleeve is further held in positionby a set screw 3 3 (Figs. 6 and 7) threaded into a boss 34 formed on theside of the spout.

The cutter C is formed from a solid block of material substantiallytriangular in cross-section and having a central bore 36 which forms acontinuation of the bore of the tubular sleeve 3|. The back of thecutter is curved as at 31 to correspond substantially with the curve ofthe can body side wall, while the sides of the cutter are flat asindicated by the numeral 38.

The upper part of the cutter sides 38 (Figs. 5 and 9) flare outwardlyand upwardly and at the same time converge toward the front of thecutter to provide a sharp cutting edge 39 inclined upward and outward.The lower part of the sides 38 extend down into a sharp point 4| and atthe same time converge into an outwardly and downwardly inclined sharpcutting edge 42 which joins with the cutting edge 39.

Insertion of the cutter C into the can top b as the dispenser is pivotedabout the seam a produces a triangular opening 41 in the can top throughwhich the contents of the can may be' drained into and through thepouring spout when the dispenser is used in its dispensing capacity. Theinclined cutting edges 39, 42 and the ared. sides 38 of the cutterproduce a wedging and plowing action through the metal of the can topwhich causes the can seam hook I 6 to be drawn into tight engagementwith the seam a as the opening of the can proceeds an'd to hold thedispenser tightly on top of the can when the former is fully seated. Thewedging action of the cutter side walls 38 also turn down the edges ofthe opening 41 against the sides of the cutter as shown in Fig. 9 as itenlarges the opening and this forms a seal around the cutter which issubstantially leakproof.

A flap or tongue 48 of the material of the cantop (Fig. 6), produced bythe action of the cutter, is turned back against the body Wall of thecan by the bottom and the rear curved edge of the cutter to preventtrapping of any liquid in the can. A hole 48 is formed in the cuttertransversely thereof and communicates with the cutter opening 36 andthis assists in completely draining any liquid which may collect aroundthe cutter while the liquid is being'dispensed.

Provision is also made for carrying off any liquid which mayaccidentally escape through the can top opening 41 and around the cutterC during the dispensing operation. Such seepage of liquid, if any, dropsfrom the cutter into the pocket 25 from which it drains into an inclinedgroove 5| (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) formed in the pouringspout 20 adjacent theshouldered end of the sleeve 3|. Beyond this shouldered end the sleeveis bent inwardly to effect a channel 52 (Figs. 6 and 8) for drainingthis seepage through the pouring spout, but separated from the main bodyof liquid. The sleeve 3| extends to the discharge end of the pouringspout so that any liquid remaining in the spout when the can is rightedafter a dispensing operation, will drain back into the can through thecutter.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scopel ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material ad.

vantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferredembodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A liquid dispensing device for sealed liquid lled containers,comprising in combination a one-piece rigid frame, means fixed on saidframe for engaging an end seam of the container and for utilizing theseam as a fulcrum, a pouring spout on said frame, a hollow cuttingelement disposed at the entrance of said pouring spout, and a handleformed on said pouring spout for pivoting said frame on said seam as afulcrum whereby said cutter is caused to perforate a wall of saidcontainer for draining the contents thereof into and through saidpouring spout when the device is used in its dispensing capacity.-

2. A liquid dispensing device for sealed liquid filled containers,comprising in combination a one-piece rigid frame, means fixed on saidframe for engaging an end seam of the container and for utilizing theseam as a fulcrum, vent hole cutting instrumentalities secured to saidframe, a. pouring spout on said frame, and a `hollow cutting elementdisposed at the entrance of said pouring spout, said vent hole cuttinginstrumentalities and said hollow cuttingelement being adapted topenetrate a wall of said container for providing venting and pouringopenings therein when said frame is pivoted about said seam as afulcrum.

3.`A liquid dispensing device for sealed liquid containers, comprisingin combination a onepiece rigid frame, means xed on said frame forengaging an end seam of the container and for utilizing the seam as afulcrum, a pouring spout on said frame, and a hollow cutting elementdisposed at the entrance of said pouring spout and having wedge shapedcutting edges and sides for penetrating a Wall of said container with aWedging action which draws the seam engaging means into tight engagementwith the seam as the cutting element penetrates the container Wall andwhich is substantially self-sealing with the edges of the opening itmakes in the wall.

4. A liquid dispensing device for sealed liquid iilled containers,comprising in combination a one-piece rigid frame, means fixed on saidframe for engaging an end seam of the container and for utilizing theseam as a fulcrum, a pouring spout on said frame, a hollow cuttingelement disposed at the entrance of said pouring spout for penetrating aWall of said container when said frame is moved into can openingposition by pivoting the same on said seam, and a. pocket formed in saidframe at the entrance end of said pouring spout for collecting liquidwhich accidentally seeps from said container when the device is used inits dispensing capacity.

r 5. A liquid dispensing device for sealed liquid 4illed containers,comprising in combination a one-piece rigid frame, means xed on saidframe for engaging an end seam of the container and for utilizing theseam as a fulcrum, a pouring spout on said frame, a hollow' cuttingelement disposed at the entrance of said pouring spout for penetrating awall of said container when said Yframe is moved into can openingposition by pivoting the same on said seam, a pocket formed in saidframe at the entrance end of said pouring spout for collecting liquidwhich accidentally leaks from said container when the device is used inits dispensing capacity, and means in said pouring spout for drainingthe liquid collected in said pocket through the spout separated from themain body of liquid passing through the spout and for discharging thecollected liquid at the end of the spout with the main body of liquid.

6. A liquid dispensing device for sealed liquid lled containers,comprising in combination a one-piece rigid frame adapted to be appliedto an end of a container, means xed to one end of said frame forengaging an end seam of the container and for utilizing the seam as afulcrum, an element formed on said frame adjacent said seam engagingmeans for locating the latter relative to said seam when the device isrst applied to said container, va pouring spout formed integrally withsaid frame at itsl opposite end, and a hollow cutting element disposedat the entrance of said pouring spout for penetrating a Wall of saidcontainer when said frame is moved into can opening position by pivotingthe same on said seam.

ROBERT LUTHI.

